When seven-year-old Jessica Humble was born on 20 December 2004, in the middle of London's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, she could not have known that the evening of 29 August 2012 would be such a special event. But standing at the very front of the queue to enter the Olympic Stadium, clutching her tiara-wearing cuddly toy dog, she was shaking with excitement – and perhaps a little cold – at being part of the Paralympic opening ceremony.

One of 700 children born on 20/12/04 who were given the chance to be part of the 2012 celebrations under the Children's Promise scheme launched during the London bid, she was proudly wearing her T-shirt and looking forward to taking her front row seat. "It was a little bit boring coming here on the train but when I saw the stadium I couldn't believe my eyes," she said. "And now I'm really, really excited."

The seven-year wait to get to this point had been worth every second, added her mum, Claire.

"There is such an incredible atmosphere here," she said. "Everyone is smiling, everyone is in good spirits – it's a real carnival atmosphere."

People came from far and wide for the ceremony, streaming past the ever-smiling volunteers, draped in flags and sporting their national colours. Ebullient Aussies Stephanie Wilson and Leslie Phillips had travelled from Sydney to take part, and had bought tickets for every day of the Paralympics. Why? "Because they are the awesomest!" shouted Wilson. "How can you get more awesome than that?"

Addie Slenderise, herself in a wheelchair, had travelled from Holland for the event, having been at the Paralympic opening ceremony in Arnhem in 1980.

"It was such an incredible event that I said to myself if I ever got the chance to go again I would," said the 47-year-old.

"Being here and being part of this is so important to me. It is really emancipating people with disabilities, giving them examples of what they could achieve themselves." She expected it to be quite different from her first opening ceremony 20 years earlier. "The whole Paralympic movement has grown so much. Every country now takes part rather than hiding disabled people away – that is why it's important."

Inside the stadium in prime seats reserved for disabled members of the audience, Barry Harvey, 55, had arrived early to soak up the atmosphere. He hoped the ceremony and the 11 days of sport to follow would change people's perceptions about disability. "There are certain people who because you are disabled treat you as something of a second class citizen, but I hope tonight will show a really positive image," he said. His wife, Diane, 55, said she had felt a marked difference in attitudes coming through the Olympic Park. "Sometimes people do stare," she said. "But here it has been so friendly, there are so many people with different disabilities around and it feels normal." She added: "I think these Paralympics will just show some incredible passion and determination that a lot of able-bodied people lack. These athletes show that you can overcome anything."

Sue Coggins, 63, had travelled from Chiswick to join in the fun and support a friend who was taking part in the ceremony. She said: "There is a real buzz. I was excited but I don't think I realised how excited I would be until I arrived." Asked why she had decided to come for this once in a lifetime event she answered: "We are Londoners – this is our party."